During the event on the ferry Wednesday, Owen John, vice-president of sales and marketing with Nova Star Cruises, said things are going well as far as reservations are concerned.

“We knew there’d be strong demand for the maiden voyage in May and also the following weekend,” he said. “However, we’re also seeing bookings for dates throughout the entire first season, including September and into October, so that’s really encouraging.”

Referring to one of the pledges he made last September on behalf of Nova Star Cruises – that the ship would bring 100,000 passengers through Yarmouth this year – John said they are confident they will surpass that goal.

He described marketing as a “critical component to succeed” and he said the ferry operator has done or is doing a good deal on this front.

Marketing also is a priority for the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency, whose CEO, Patrick Sullivan – another of the speakers aboard the Nova Star for the April 16 event – talked about some of the efforts to promote the province in the Boston area, some involving the Boston Red Sox.

He said the World Series trophy (won by the Red Sox last year) will be travelling to Nova Scotia on the Nova Star.

Other speakers included Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood.

Even the waiting she had to do to get on the vessel – there was a security process involved in getting on board and it took awhile to get people together – apparently didn’t lower her enthusiasm for the moment.

“It took four years (to get a ferry back),” she said. “What’s 20 minutes? I would have stood in that line until suppertime.”